Whilst the wine world is waiting to get a first taste of Brunello di Montalcino 2008 and the Brunello Riserva 2007 at Benvenuto Brunello 2013, wine pro Monica Larner has already gotten a head start at Montalcino's vintner association last week.

A big fan of Brunello 2007, Monica Larner doesn't seem quite as excited about the 2008 vintage after tasting her way through a good 250 Brunello di Montalcino 2008 (poor thing!); whereas, not surprisingly, the Brunello Riserva 2007 gets one big thumbs up from the Italian editor of Wine Enthusiast (click through for the interview with her in Italian on Montalcinonews). We'll be keeping you up-to-date on what the rest of the wine world is going to say at the end of February after Benvenuto Brunello 2013. In the meantime you better keep stocking up on Brunello 2007 - a vintage meant to last. Check out Monica Larner's Brunello di Montalcino 2007 tasting notes on Wine Enthusiast or listen to what she said after tasting this most stellar vintage last year.